[Location: Left Edge of Akrina—Rayan Planet] Anya and Jim stood in front of the barrels filled with green, sweet-smelling blood, neither attempting to make any sudden movements on account of the turrets aimed at them. The already starved humans stared at the barrels with lustful gazes, their bodies itching to consume the barrels’ contents. However, their predicament did not sit right with them. Why would an Ethisian, moreover, a high-ranking one, offer them blood and then challenge them to a fight? Could it be that the blood was poisoned? Tainted? Or tampered with the intention to harm the two humans? "I assure you, I haven’t done anything to the blood," Commander reassured. "I just want to see whether you have the decency to consider the Granians who died to fill the barrel. Or are you just blood-crazed beings?" The first to consume from the barrels was Anya, who went ahead and proved Commander’s point, but at the same time, didn’t. The Ethisian theorized that these Blood Mutants indeed were blood-crazed, mindless creatures that only fought for the sake of feeding. He was right and wrong at the same time, because Anya did not, never did, and most likely never will have respect for the Granians. And that was why she didn’t hesitate to consume the barrel until it was bone dry. "The people you fight for. Their blood is what was used to fill those barrels. Haven’t you any decency for them?" "The Granians themselves feed us with their own blood," Anya replied, as the last drops of green blood dissolved into her skin, "you haven’t proved any point. If anything..." She grinned as her replenished body started to change and adapt to her newly evolved state. "...you’ve just given us fuel to kill you where you stand." Jim, seeing nothing bad happen to his counterpart, consumed the blood as well and instantly felt his body change. In terms of strength, speed, agility, and blood manipulation capabilities, he felt a complete change within him. He hated to admit it, but he loved the feel of his body whenever he evolved, whether on his own or with Ace’s involvement. "Fine," Commander stretched his free hand and motioned for the Blood Mutants, now Blood Acolytes, to charge at him. "Show me you have the strength to do as you said you would do." Anya’s skin started to shift and bulge with her veins swelling and bursting, releasing volumes of blood all over her skin. However, as soon as she switched position, all the turrets aimed at her and Jim began to shoot at them rapidly. The constant release of firepower brightened the camp as the sound of the whirring turrets deafened out every other sound. Commander watched from where he stood with a slight grin etched on his face as the place where the Blood Acolytes stood lit up into a small fire dome. On command, the turrets ceased firing, allowing the Ethisian to see whether the humans were killed or not. At that point, however, he already knew the outcome of that situation. It was going to take more than a few hundred blasts to kill them, not when they were in the middle of transforming. ’Of course they lived.’ He turned back and locked eyes with Anya, whose body was covered, head-to-toe, in hardened blood armor, shielding her from the blasts that were previously fired at her. Whilst still wearing the armor, she unleashed an attack of her own by firing hundreds of nine-inch-long blood spikes at the Ethisian. Commander spun his sword, deflecting the spikes while slowly moving about. He was looking for the second Blood Acolyte, and soon enough, he found him. Glazed in a bright golden-red color, Jim shone from a distance as his skin started to light up. As it did, about four Blood Clones separated from his body and also mimicked the same action he performed. Bolts of energy in the form of lightning formed from their bodies and, in unison, were fired at the Ethisian. Again, Commander spun his sword, deflecting the energy and the Blood spikes at the same time. The High Grade changed tactics and chose to attack instead of simply defending himself. His body started to glow as a mist-like aura flowed around him. As it grew brighter, Commander ran into Jim and his clone’s electric charges and leaped into the air. He lunged his sword at Jim, who quickly switched positions with one of his clones. The sword, laced with Eneraflux, not only cut through the clone but also eviscerated it completely, leaving nothing but evaporating pools of blood. Tendrils were shot at the airborne High Grade, aimed for his back and legs. Though still airborne, he spun his body, grabbed the tendrils, and yanked on them, ripping them from the source. Anya groaned in pain as her tendrils were ripped from her body, but it didn’t matter. She could make hundreds more. "I thought you said you were going to kill me where I stood?" Commander taunted as he wrapped the two tendrils around his arms. He then grabbed his sword while the Blood Acolytes and Jim’s three clones circled him. For origınal chapters go to 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚫𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚫𝕟𝕖𝕥 The Mutants didn’t say anything, but instead glued their eyes on the hulking Ethisian. As his energy continuously flowed, so did theirs. Anya dropped the hardened blood armor suit, revealing her new, evolved form. Similar to Ace’s, her new form was no longer monstrous with jagged limbs, gnarly long claws, or wicked teeth pocking out from her lips. Instead, she appeared smooth with a colourful white and black gradient growing from her feet to her upper body. Her head was more egg-shaped and smooth with a pair of white eyes shaped like croissants. The same was for Jim. He, too, was smoother in appearance with a more well-toned, well-defined body and a golden-red gradient. They were glorious in their new forms, perhaps even more than Ace and Cherry. "Seems you over hyped yourselves. Well then, it’s my turn to retaliate."